AT 1988 Equipment List

Here is what I took on my 1988 hike from Springer Mountain GA to Harpers Ferry WV.

1988 AT Equipment

. Category Item Notes Weight in oz
. worn/carried
. t-shirt medium weight cotton, sleeves removed 7.2
. running shorts synthetic, Nike 4.3
. hiking boots Danner leather/cordura/Gore-Tex 50.0
. hiking socks wool 3.2
. wrist watch Timex cheap 1.0
. compass Silva 1.0
. hiking stick shovel handle found on trail 17.0
.
. Total 83.7
. Total weight carried 5.2 lbs
.
.
. pack external frame pack Jansport 80.0
. pack cover nylon water repellent 2.0
.
. Cook/water water bottle 1 liter wide mouth 6.5
. camp water container gallon milk jug 2.0
. wash bowl bottom of milk jug 1.0
. cook stove Scorpion Model 1 w/stuff sack 8.2
. fuel propane cartridge small 10.6
. mini butane lighter 0.3
. cook pot Al 3cup pot from Coleman cook set with heat-shrink tubing added to handle 3.5
. spoon lexan 0.2
. iodine tablets Potable Aqua 1.0
. oil liquid margarine in squeeze tube 4.2
. potato flakes for thickening dinners if needed 0.3
. food bag nylon stuff sack 3.0
.
. Shelter bivy sack Goretex, infrequently used 16.5
.
. Sleeping down bag North Face with stuff sack 40.0
. sleeping pad Ridge-rest 3/4 length 8.5
.
. Clothes camp shirt button-up short sleeve green 8.5
. camp sweat-pants fleece Russell 16.2
. rain coat Gore-tex Campmor blue with hood 15.5
. cap useful during rain or with headnet 3.0
. spare socks wool 3.2
. clothes bag garbage bag 1.0
.
. Misc
. no-see-um head net from Campmor 0.6
. snake bite kit Sawyer Extractor 4.0
. first aid kit band-aids, mole foam, aspirin, sudafed in band-aid tin 1.1
. sewing kit 0.7
. toothbrush/toothpaste paste stores in handle 1.7
. soap Dr Bonner liquid 2.5
. toiletries comb, razor, deoderant, floss 2.4
. bandana purple 0.7
. spare mini butane lighter 0.3
. knife stainless keychain pen knife 0.7
. wallet with id 3.4
. camera Olympus Infinity 10.1
. repair kit 1.4
. guide Appalachian Trail Data Book + itinerary 2.2
. journal Daytimer Jr size 1.0
. pen retractable flat mini ballpoint 0.3
. flashlight Duracell 2AA battery small 2.5
. insect repellent 2 oz bottle DEET 2.8
. razor disposable plastic 0.2
. cord 50 feet for hanging food bag 0.8
. scat shovel plastic orange 1.8
. toilet paper in zip bag partial roll, remove cardboard tube 1.4
.
.
. Total 277.8
. Total base pack weight 17.4 lbs

Total weight with five days of food and one liter of water was about 30 pounds. That was pretty typical of max pack weights that summer for thru-hikers, and possibly on the low side. My 2012 attempt to complete The Trail will use ultralight techniques, and so will be very different. More about that in later posts.

AT 1988 equipment assembled

Author: Jim, Sagebrush

Jim (trail-name Sagebrush) codes audio software for Windows, Linux, Android, and embedded systems. When not working at sagebrush.com, he enjoys backpacking, which this blog is about.